Round 6: Anton Jonsson vs. Sigurd Eskeland

Victor van den Broek

Judge Gis Hoogendijk came over with a decklist before the round started asking Anton to count it. It resulted in Anton being unable to use his sideboard and he received a game loss. Both are at 3-2 so only of these two European Magic heavyweights would advance to Day 2.

To top off his bad luck, Anton had to mulligan his opening hand.

Game 2

"And Anton is off to a good start with a game loss and a mulligan, but soon Sigurd's smiles are to be turned into tears" – Sigurd.

His second hand made Anton much happier, bringing him the necessary turn-three morph. Sigurd did then same, and it went unblocked on his next turn. Unfortunately, it was a Haunted Cadaver, limiting Anton's options even more. Anton followed up his turn 3 morph with a turn 4 and turn 5 morph, along with a turn 6 Gustcloak Harrier. One of his morphs, a Daru Lancer, traded with a morphed Spine Basher, due to a lack of land on Anton's side.

Sigurd had a Screeching Buzzard to stop Anton's offense a bit, but the Swede armored up the Harrier and attacked, bringing Sigurd down to 4 life. The Norwegian cycled a Swat only to scoop up for game 3 afterwards.

On his next turn, Sigurd swung with everything. Anton blocked the Festering Goblin with Sparksmith, the Lorian with a freshly cast True Believer and the Mauler with the 3/6 Wayfarer. Treespring Lorian hit the table next along with a Screeching Buzzard. Anton replenished his side of the board with two Gustcloak Harriers and a Sparksmith. The Smith got a Crown of Suspicion, but Anton finally had time to use his Weathered Wayfarer to fetch a cycle land. He played his sixth land and sent in his morph, signaling a Skittish Valesk. It went unblocked and Anton cycled three more lands. Sigurd Swated the morphed Valesk, and Anton made a Pearlspear Courier, finally giving him a way to break through the Gourna. He turned one of his Harriers into a Serra Angel and beat Sigurd down to 8. Sigurd made a morph, and blocked the 4/4 Harrier with his Buzzard during Anton's next attack. Goblin Sharpshooter and Taskmaster joined Anton's side. Anton attacked with all of his fliers next turn, bringing Sigurd down to 2.

On his next turn, Sigurd knew his prophecy was about to come true and conceded. He hadn't drawn his Dirge of the Dead, Contested Cliffs, Naturalize, or Cruel Revival. Any of those would've sufficed earlier in the game – and his smiles turned into tears.